UN chief urges Israel to work towards two-state solution

2011-05-07 09:44:12 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday said overcoming the current impasse in negotiations between Israel and Palestine was an urgent priority.

Ban told Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a telephone conversation that the current deadlock in negotiations between the two sides was not helping anyone. They discussed the Middle East peace process and the signing this week in Cairo of a reconciliation agreement between Palestinian antagonist groups, Fatah and Hamas.

According to a readout of the call issued by the UN spokesperson's office, Ban said he was "convinced that realizing a two-state solution as soon as possible is in the best interest of both the Israeli and Palestinian people." He said he "hoped Israel will make decisive moves towards a historic agreement with the Palestinians."

Ban also urged Israel to not stop transferring tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority. Last week, Israeli Finance Minister, Yuval Steinitz, said the Israeli government will hold up transfer to the Palestinian Authority of $90 million of tax funds and customs fees that Israel collects on the Palestinians' behalf.

After Palestinian antagonist groups reached the unity deal, Netanyahu called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to choose either peace with Israel or peace with Hamas as there "is no possibility for peace with both."

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-07

Israel needs more than 'urging' they need forcing; no one will say anything to them unless the USA agrees - and they will not. The Israeli forces can do anything to Gaza and nobody breaths a word. Clearly, Israel is breaking UN resolutions with impunity.

This is a stalemate not a peace process.

Edited May 7, 201115 yr by creck

The Israeli forces can do anything to Gaza and nobody breaths a word.

Can you say rockets, suicide bombers and a terrorist organization called Hamas? As long as the Palestinians refuse any peace deal and keep up the provocations, they will not get their homeland.

In the mean time over 800 civilians have been shot in Syria and UN I guess is too busy with "bigger" problems.

800 civilians in less then a month would not be a genocide, but should it have been Israel, i am sure UN would be already throwing the big words around.

But then again no doubt they will find some way to implicate and blame Israel for it. Just as they blame Israel for anything and everything that happes in the region

The Israeli forces can do anything to Gaza and nobody breaths a word.

Can you say rockets, suicide bombers and a terrorist organization called Hamas? As long as the Palestinians refuse any peace deal and keep up the provocations, they will not get their homeland.

A few homemade rockets from Gaza do not compare with the IDF assault that Israel used to retaliate.

One man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter. Hamas is certainly not just a terrorist organisation. It just does not balk at meeting force with force. It is no justification for a blockade of Gaza that has turned Gaza into a ghetto similar to that which the Jews like to remind us should never happen again. I wish they spoke the truth.

You are correct; Israel has taken their homeland. I think that does justify all the actions taken by indigenous Palestinians that I have seen.

Sorry for the slow reply.

Perhaps rocket for rocket would be a better choice

The Israeli forces can do anything to Gaza and nobody breaths a word.

Can you say rockets, suicide bombers and a terrorist organization called Hamas? As long as the Palestinians refuse any peace deal and keep up the provocations, they will not get their homeland.

A few homemade rockets from Gaza do not compare with the IDF assault that Israel used to retaliate.

One man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter. Hamas is certainly not just a terrorist organisation. It just does not balk at meeting force with force. It is no justification for a blockade of Gaza that has turned Gaza into a ghetto similar to that which the Jews like to remind us should never happen again. I wish they spoke the truth.

You are correct; Israel has taken their homeland. I think that does justify all the actions taken by indigenous Palestinians that I have seen.

Sorry for the slow reply.

A few homemade rockets from Gaza do not compare with the IDF assault that Israel used to retaliate.

A "few"? Well over 6,000 mortars and rockets have been fired at Israel since Israel withdrew from Gaza and that does not include suicide bombings. Hamas are to blame for any retaliation and they were directly elected by the residents of Gaza.

The Israeli forces can do anything to Gaza and nobody breaths a word.

Can you say rockets, suicide bombers and a terrorist organization called Hamas? As long as the Palestinians refuse any peace deal and keep up the provocations, they will not get their homeland.

Not likely. Even if they were to be good lads for an unprecedented time.....this fuzzy ideal and talk of a Palestinian state will never see fruition.

Of really? As far as I know, it is not up to you to decide.